Gas or vapor engine



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

0; CQLBORNE. GAS 0R VAPQR ENGINE.

No. 550,675. PatentedDec. 3, 1895.

ANDREW BG'RANAM PHOTO'LI'HKQWASHINGION. DB.

( Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. GO LBORNE. GAS 0R VAPOR ENGINE.

No. 550,675. Patented-Dec. 3, 1895.

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I iJNirno Starts PATENT emcee.

OLIVER COLBORNE, OF CHICAGO, iLLiNois.

GAS OR VAPOR ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,675, dated December 3, 1895.

1 Ap li ation fil d June 27, 1894. Serial No. 515,807. (No model.)

' citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Gas or Vapor Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tocertain new and useful improvements in gas and vapor e11- gines.

The object of the invention is to provide an engine capable of being operated interchangeably as a gascngine and as a vapor-- engine.

A further object of the invention is to simplify, cheapen, and render more efficient and effective the construction of gas and vapor engines.

The invention consists substantially in the details of construction, combinations, locations, adaptation, and relative arrangements of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter described, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is now had to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line at, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a partial view in horizontal longitudinal section taken on the line y y, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a detail view in vertical section of the igniting and heating chamber. Fig. 5 is a detail view in plan,showing parts of the automatic governor or speed-regulating device.

The same reference signs are used to indi cate the same parts wherever they occur throughout the several views of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable base or framework 6, of suitable shape and form, to support the operative parts of my machine. Preferably this framework comprises a hollow casing, as shown, and in order to secure compactness and to remove the danger of disarranging the parts constituting the automatic governor and speedregulator I locate the operative parts thereof within said hollow casing, hereinafter appear.

In bearings formed in framework 6 I mount the main drive-shaft 7 having mounted thereon the usual fly-wheel 8, belt-pulleys 9 and 10, and a gear-wheel 11.

Shaft 7 is driven by means of connectingrod 12 and crank 13 from the piston in cylinder 1 1 in the usual way. The cylinder 14 is supported in any suitable way by frame work or table 6, in position to effect, by the reciprocation of the piston therein, the rotation of the main drive-shaft. Said cylinder comprises a working chamber 15,within which is located the piston. The Wall of this working chamber 15 is surrounded by a jacket 16,

as will more fully leaving a small space between the same.

Openings 17 are provided for the purpose of admitting air to the space formed between the jacket 16 and the wall of chamber 15, as shown. (See more particularly Fig. 3.)

Reference-sign 1S designates the combus tion-chamber wherein the explosion'of' the gas or vapor takes place, and is of the usual construction, opening connection with the interior of the working cylinder, and also provided with an opening 19 for the admission of the gas or vapor to be exploded.

Reference-sign 20 designates a pipe for delivering the gas or oil-such, for instance, as gasoline,'in the case of a vapor-engine-to the igniting andcompressin g chamber. This pipe connects with a short section of pipe 21, which in turn is secured to a connection 22, the end of section 21 projecting freely into the end of the short section of a pipe 23 of larger internal diameter than the external diameter of said section 21, as shown, and is provided with a series of openings, .as indicated at 24, whereby the gas or fluid, in case of a vapor-engine, becomes thoroughly coinmingled with the air, as will be readily u11- derstood and as usual in this class of devices. The flow of the gas or fluid maybe regulated by a small check-valve 25. A short pipe 26, having free connection with the air at one end, communicates at the other end with said section 22, as indicated at Fig. 4. The flow of gas or fluid into the large section-pipe 23, and a draft of air through section 26, section 22, and pipe 23, are maintained by the suction due to the reciprocations of the piston.

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The commingled air and gas or fluid passes into the valve-chamber 27 {the valve-opening leading therein being closed by a valve 28, having a stem 29, which may be suitably weighted or otherwise held to its seat.

Reference-sign 3O designates the ordinary heating or igniting tube. It may be supplied from any suitable source with gas through a pipe 31, which when ignited serves to heat the rod or pipe 32 contained therein, which is in connection through a small opening 33 with the interior of the valve-chamber 27. Said valve-chamber 27 is in connection through a suitable opening, as 34,and the opening19, with the compression-chamber 18. Arranged in valve-chamber 27 is an exhaust-valve 35,

controlling the port leading to the exhaustpipe 36. Said valve 35 is "provided with a stem 37, extending through the casing forming the valve-chamber and provided'with a collar 38 on the end thereof. interposed between. said collar and casing for a purpose presently to be described.

Exhaust-valve 35 is operated positively to open the exhaust -port by the following-described mechanism: 40 designates a crankarm mounted upon one end of a pin 41, journaled in a suitable manner, as in bracket 42. Said crank-arm 40 is arranged to bear against the lower end of the stem OfGXllEtUSt-VHJVG 35. A set-screw 43 may be provided to regulate the amount of throw which may be imparted to said valve by the rocking of said arm. Secured to the other end of pin 41 is a crankarm 44, to the opposite end of which is pivoted a rod 45, mounted in suitable brackets, as 46, and adapted to receive longitudinal movement. by means of a lever 47, secured to the opposite end thereof, said lever being pivoted, as at 48, to the framework of the machine and adapted to be rocked by means of a cam 49, mounted upon the hub of gearwheel 50, said gear-wheel adapted to receive rotary motion through its engagement with the gear 11 on shaft 7. The rotation of said gear-wheel causes cam 49 to efiect a rocking of lever 47, and hence an endwise reciprocation of rod 45, thus rocking crank-arm 44, pin 41, and arm 40, thus operating the exhaust-valve 45 in one direction against the action ofspring 39, which effects the return movement of said valve when relieved by the reciprocation of rod 45 in the opposite direction, or otherwise the spring 39 serves not only to return the valve 35 to its seat but also causes lever 47 to remain continually in engagement with cam 49. A friction-roller 51 may be provided, if desired, to reduce the friction of contact between cam 49 and lever 47.

I will now describe the construction of my governor or automatic speed regulator, whereby the reciprocation .of rod 45, and hence the action of exhaust-valve 35, is automatically controlled. Mounted transversely in the framework 6 or in suitable bearings or castings bolted or otherwise secured A spring 39 is thereto is a short shaft 52, adapted to receive relatively rapid motion from drive-shaft 7 by any suitable driving mechanism, such as belt 53 from pulley 9 on said shaft 7 to pulley 54 011 shaft 52. Rigidly secured to the end of this short shaft 52 and arranged within the interior of the framework 6 (see more particularly Fig. 2) is a collar 55, having flanges 56, to which are pivoted bell-crank levers 57, carrying suitable weights 58 on one arm thereof, the other arm of said bell-crank levers being connected by links 59 to arms 60, projecting from a sleeve 61, adapted to slide longitudinally on the end of shaft 52. Located adjacent to the end of shaft 52 and substantially or preferably in prolongation thereof is a rod 62, the inner end of which is rigidly secured to sleeve 61. Said rod 62 is mounted to slide longitudinally in a longitudinal bore 63 in the end of shaft 52, s

clearly shown, a transverse opening 63 through shaft 52 being provided to permit the connection between sleeve 61, sliding on said shaft and said rod 62. The end of rod 62 is adapted to project slightly beyond the outer surface of the box or casing in which shaft 52 is journaled and is adapted to be en-. gaged by a pin 64, carried in the lower end of a lever 65, pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 66, to a suitable bracket or casing 67. Pin 64 may be screw-threaded and the socket or perforation in the lower end of arm .65 through which said pin passes may be screw-threaded, in order to secure an accurate and nice adjustment. Pin 64 may be provided with a weight 68 for a purpose presently to be de scribed. The upper end of lever 65 carries a flange 69, adapted when said lever 65 is rocked upon its pivot to be engaged by a collar 70, adjustably carried on rod 45, whereby the longitudinal reciprocations of said rod maybe arrested.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: The reciprocation of the piston in cylinder 14 effects a rotation of shaft 7, which in turn transmits rotary motion to shaft 52, the rotary motion of which effects through centrifugal force a rocking of bellcrank lever 57 by reason of weights 58, said weights tending to separate from each other.

tions of rod 45 are arrested at the moment of extreme throw of cam 49, and hence at the moment exhaust-valve 35 is held in its open position, the result being that so long as rod 45 is held in this position further impulses are not imparted to the piston in cylinder 14, and hence the speed of shaft 47 is reduced. This reduction of speed is also imparted to shaft 52, and hence spring 71 causes'weights 58 to approach each other, or, if no spring is employed, the reduced speed of rotation reduces the centrifugal force and permits said weights to approach each other, thus efiecting a reverse movement of sleeve 61 through its connections with rock-levers 57, thus causing the rod 62 to be moved inwardly, whereby the weight 68 causes the upper end of lever to be drawn out of the path of travel of sleeve 70 on rod 45, and hence the normal action of the engine is taken up again.

When this machine is used as a vapor-enginethat is, when oil, such, for instance, as gasoline, is used-I have found it desirable in many cases to heat the air before it comes into contact with the fluid, as found in practice that better results and more perfect and reliable action takes place when the air is first heated. In order to secure this result in an exceedingly simple way and without expense, I utilize the heat of the igniting chamber or tube 30 by mounting therearound a hollow cylinder 72, having connection with the outer air, as indicated by the arrows, and connecting by means of a pipe 73 with the connection 22. When this connection is used, the short air-pipe 26 may be closed by means of a stop-cock 74. A similar stop-cock 75 may be provided in pipe 7 3 to limit or regulate the flow of heated air therethrough or to entirely out off the supply of heated air when the air-pipe 26 is used alone, or I may use a supply of air through both pipes 7 3 and 26 at the same time, if desired, by suitably regulating, by means of stop-cocks 74 75, the flow of air.

In practice I have found that considerable heat is generated in the compression or explosion chamber 18. Such heat, in connection with the action of the piston in cylinder 15, causes also the shell or walls of cylinder 15 to become heated, which is a detriment to efficient work, although in practice it is desirable to maintain the heat of the chamber 18, because a more certain and positive explosion is secured, and hence a more effective apparatus is secured thereby. In order to keep cylinder 15 cooled throughout its length, I mount a suitable fan 7 6 upon the side of the cylinder and in aconvenient place and having connection with the space inclosed between the wall of cylinder 15 and jacket 16, as shown. (See Fig. 3.) The fan 76 may be operated in any suitable manner, asby means of a belt 77 from pulley 10 on shaft 7 and a pulley 78 on the shaft of the fan, openings 17 permitting air to be drawn in to such jacket through said openings at the end of the cylinder, as will be obvious.

It will be observed that so long as the rod 45 is held against longitudinal movement by the governor above described the exhaustvalve is maintained in its open position, and consequently the reciprocations of the piston do not effect a suction creating an inflow of the gas or fluid; but the piston has open Many changes in the details of construction, location, and arrangement of parts may be made and many changes would readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited to the eXact construction, details, form, and arrangement shown; but,

Having now fully described the principle of my invention and the construction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a gas or vapor engine, a cylinder, a jacket inclosing the same, openings at each end of said jacket, extending circumferentially around the same, and opening communication between the space formed by said jacket around said cylinder and the outer air, a suction fan communicating with said space intermediate the ends thereof, and means for actuating said fan, whereby fresh air is drawn through said space from openings circumferentially arranged around each end of said cylinder as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine of the class described an exhaust valve, means for opening and closing the same, comprising a reciprocating rod, and means for actuating said rod, and means for automatically arresting the reciprocations of said rod in position to maintain said valve in open position, comprising a shaft, a sleeve mounted thereon, and means for sliding said sleeve along said shaft, said means adapted to be actuated by the rotation of said shaft at an abnormal speed, a rod, means for attaching said rod to said sleeve to move there with, a pivoted lever having one end thereof arranged to engage said valve actuating rod, an adjustable contact point carried by the opposite end of said lever, and adapted to be engaged by the rod attached to said sleeve, and means for weighting the contact end of said lever; all combined and arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described an. exhaust valve, a reciprocatory rod arranged to actuate said valve, and means for arresting the reciprocations of said rod in position to maintain said valve open, comprising a hollowed shaft, a rod mounted to slide longitudinally within said hollowed shaft, a sleeve mounted to slide upon said shaft and connected to said rod, means actuated by the rotation of said shaft at an abnormal speed for sliding said sleeve, a rock lever having one end thereof arranged in position to engage said valve actuating rod, means for normally maintaining said rock lever out of engagement with said valve rod, the other end of said lever arranged to be engaged by the governor rod, whereby said lever maybe rocked into engagement with said valve actuating rod; as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a machine of the class described, an exhaust valve, a reoiproeatory rod arranged 5 to open and close the same, a pivoted lever provided with a threaded perforation at one end and having the opposite end arranged in position to engage said rod, a threaded plug carrying a Weight arranged in said perfora- 10 tion, said Weight adapted to normally hold said lever out of engaging position with respect to the said valve rod, a governor shaft,

a rod arranged to be moved thereby, and adapted to engage the end of said plug, whereby said lever is rocked and the reeipro- I 5 cation of said valve rod arrested; as and for the purpose set forth.

I11 Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of June, 1894.

OLIVER UOLBORNE. \Vitnesses:

FRANK T. BROWN, S. E. DARBY. 

